Alfred Ost
Encyclopedia
Alfred Ost was a Belgian
art
ist.
He was born in Zwijndrecht
and died in Antwerp.
In 1920 he won a bronze medal in the art competitions of the Olympic Games
for his "Joueur de Football" ("Football Player").
During the Second World War he found it difficult to align himself with the rationing system for food and other goods. He often lost his war-coupons for food and life necessities. He found shelter, food, and help exchanging his coupons with the Jesuit priests managing the Xaverius College
in Borgerhout
, Antwerp. In exchange for the help, he offered a piece of work of a religious nature. The Jesuits liked the work and ordered another, this time above the entrance of one of the doors leading to a chapel. As there were many positive reactions and a lot of fascination with the style, power, and dynamism of his art, he was offered to make his graffiti on all the walls all over the college. The graffiti
depicts the life of Franciscus Xaverius, the patron saint of Xaverius College
and Jesuit of the Jesuit order managing the college. Because of the war, there was no paint available, so his graffiti was made with charcoal
and woodcoal sticks. Much later on a protective layer was added and today the paintings still stand as one of the prides of the college.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
ist.
He was born in Zwijndrecht
Zwijndrecht, Belgium
Zwijndrecht is both a village and a municipality located in the Flemish province of Antwerp, in Belgium. As well as Zwijndrecht proper, the municipality includes the villages of Burcht. As of January 1, 2006, Zwijndrecht had a total population of 18,231....
and died in Antwerp.
In 1920 he won a bronze medal in the art competitions of the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
for his "Joueur de Football" ("Football Player").
During the Second World War he found it difficult to align himself with the rationing system for food and other goods. He often lost his war-coupons for food and life necessities. He found shelter, food, and help exchanging his coupons with the Jesuit priests managing the Xaverius College
Xaverius College
Xaverius College, in Borgerhout, near Antwerp, Belgium, is one of seven schools operated by the Jesuit priests in Flanders, the northern and western part of Belgium where Dutch is spoken....
in Borgerhout
Borgerhout
Borgerhout is a district of the municipality and city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. The district houses 41,614 inhabitants reflecting 90 nationalities...
, Antwerp. In exchange for the help, he offered a piece of work of a religious nature. The Jesuits liked the work and ordered another, this time above the entrance of one of the doors leading to a chapel. As there were many positive reactions and a lot of fascination with the style, power, and dynamism of his art, he was offered to make his graffiti on all the walls all over the college. The graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
depicts the life of Franciscus Xaverius, the patron saint of Xaverius College
Xaverius College
Xaverius College, in Borgerhout, near Antwerp, Belgium, is one of seven schools operated by the Jesuit priests in Flanders, the northern and western part of Belgium where Dutch is spoken....
and Jesuit of the Jesuit order managing the college. Because of the war, there was no paint available, so his graffiti was made with charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of carbon, and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen...
and woodcoal sticks. Much later on a protective layer was added and today the paintings still stand as one of the prides of the college.